Cessna 182A accident near Traphill, North Carolina, January 17, 2004
On January 17, 2004 at about 8:36 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N4744D, was destroyed in an accident near Traphill, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Contributing factors were conditions conducive for carburetor icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 2004 · about 8:36 pm local time
- Place
- Traphill, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 3 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N4744D · no longer on the register · serial 34844
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses reported the airplane was flying low and the engine sounded like it was "idling". The airplane continued to descend below the tree line and a loud "crash" was heard. The passenger recalled that the engine sounded "like a choke was pulled on the engine, as if you were restricting air". The pilot then pulled the carburetor heat and tried to lean the mixtures. The engine did not regain full power, and the pilot made an emergency landing in field, and cart wheeled numerous times. Examination of the accident site revealed, the airplane came to rest in a field nine miles north of the Wilkes County Airport. Examination of the airplane revealed that both wing assemblies were buckled, and outboard sections of the wings were curled upwards. The ailerons and flaps were still connected to the wing assemblies. Fuel was observed in the right and left wing tank when the fuel caps were opened. Examination of the engine revealed valve train movement to the accessory pulley and on all valve assemblies. Compression was attained on all cylinders and spark was produced from the ignition leads. Fuel was found in the supply hose and in the carburetor fuel bowl. Examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical or flight control anomalies. Review of the North Wilkesboro, North Carolina weather revealed that flight conditions were favorable for carburetor icing.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 710 hours in all; 610 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 52 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2004; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IKB Wilkesboro NC at 7:55 pm
- Destination: Traphill NC
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:42 pm from UKF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.